Self-propelled vehicle



April 2, 1929.

Filed March 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet Apriifl 2, 1929.. w. J. PUGH SELFPROPELLED VEHICLE Filed March '7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet IN VEN TOR.

April! 2," 1929. W. J. PUGH mmmzs SELF PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed March '7,1928 5 sh t -sh t 3 Patented Apr, 2, i929.

WILLIAM J". PUGH, F, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-PROIPELLED VEHICLE.

Application filed March 7, 1928. Serial No. 259,841.

lhis invention is a novel improvement in self-propelled vehicles such asso-called Irish mail coasters and other similar vehicles particularlyadapted for use by childd en; and the principal object of the inventionis "to provide a coaster embodying certain novel improvements in themeans for propelling" braking, and steering the vehicle in order thatsame will be more easily operated and safer for children to ride upon.

More specifically the objects of the invention are to provide novelpropelling means for separately driving "the wheels of the coastercomprising eccentric friction clutch mechanisms adapted to alternatelyrotate the driving wheels in the forward direction; means forautomatically maintaining the clutches in neutral position; automaticmeans for shi ting the clutches for operation in reverse direction;means for automatically maintaining the clutches in neutral positionwhile applying brakes to the driving wheel shafts; manually operatedmeans for limiting the swing of the rocking beam so that same cannot beshifted automatically into reerse; and means for automatically applyingthe bralres when the propelling rocking beam is pullee into extreme rearposit-ion.

Still further objects are to provide means whereby the steering; may beaccomplished either with the feet in the usual manner or ma; beaccomplished by tilting the operators seat; also to provide means fornormally holding the steering axle in straight-ahead position to preventsudden turninp and upof the vehicle; also to provide a n'ovel aidingrumblebos: for the operators which will fold into and form part of these when closed and which when opened w 1 hold sn all articles.

My invention may be used on either a hand driven vehicle guided by feetsuch as an Irish mail coaster or may be used on self propelled vehiclessuch as childrens toy automobiles of we l known type driven by the feetand steered by toe hands; or may be used on any other v icle to whichsame is adaptable.

i will explain the invention with reference to the accompanyi g drawingswhich illustrate several practical embodiments thereof to enable thereto adopt and use the same, and will sumn'iarize in the claims the novelfeatures of construction, and the novel combinations of parts for whichprotection is desired.

In said drawings;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a coaster embodying one form of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the e0 eccentric clutch and itsoperating mechanism and the adjacent port-ions of the brake and drivingdish.

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of the operation of the clutch actuatingmechanisms for forward driving.

Fig. 5 is asimilar diagram for reverse driving.

F 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the relation of the lever and brake;i

Fig. 7 is a detail of the free end of the brake band.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the means for retracting the sliding bolt on therocking beam. P Fig. a top plan view of a modified rorin of theinvention. a

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the modified form. V

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 1111,

Figs. 12 and 13 aredetails showing the nea for preventingthe steeringaxle from swerving.

14 is a perspective view of the rumble box. S5 in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusivethe invention is illustrated in connection with an Irish mail I coasterof well known type comprising; two spaced longitudinal frames 1supported at their rear ends upon aligned rear axle sections 2 journaledin bearings securedto the side frames 1, saidaXle sections 2 carryingthe rear or driving wheels respectively and the use of the broken rearaxle. permitting differential rotation of the rear wheels The forwardends of side frames 1 are supported on a front axle 5' carrying thefront wheels 6, said axle 5 being provided with a swivel head 5 (Fig.11) at its center which is pivo ally bolted as at 5" to a bearin plate 1extending between the frames. 1". Upon the top of axle 5 adjacent thewheels are clips 5 (Fig. 9) for preventing injury to the feet of theoperator by the front wheels 6, the vehicle being steered by resting thefeet upon 5 the front axle Between the frames 1 adjacent the front endsthereof is a rocking beam 7 journaled adjacent its lower end in-bearingsI mounted on the said frames 1. At the top ofbeam 7 is a handlecross-bar 7 for rocking the beam 7, which beam is connected by two links8 and 9 to their respective eccentric friction clutch mechanisms,hereinafter described, mounted on the rear axle sections 2 forpropelling the vehicle. Above the frames 1 in rear of rocking beam 7 isa seat supported convenient height upon brackets 10.

At the rear end of seat 10 is a rumble box 11 1 and 14) pivoted as at 11at its lower rear corners to a frame 10 and adapt ed when. folded asshown in Fig. 1 to be flat on the top of the seat 10, but adapted whenopen, as shown in Fig. 14, to receive small articles therein, the upperend when in open position being open, and the bottom and sides beingclosed.

The eccentric clutch driving device as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, comprisesa pair of adjacent disks 12 at the inner ends of their respective shaftsections 2 between the frames 1 and below the seat 10, each. disk 12having a relatively long hub 12 pinned to its respective axle section 2and extending to meet the bearing 3 of its axle section 2 to preventaxial movements of the axle sections in their bear- Preferably the endsof the sections 2 terminate within one of the hubs 12 for the purpose ofproperly aligning the said sections. Each disk 12 is provided. with anoutwardly flanged peripheral rim 12" for the purpose hereinafter setforth.

Journaled upon each hub 12 beside-the rim 12 is a rocker arm 13 havingits hub 13 interposed between the web of disk 12 and the bearing 3 toprevent axial movement of said. lever. The outer end of each arm 13projects beyond the rim 12 and is c nnected to its respective link 8 or9 extending from the rocking beam 7, link 8 being connected to beam 7above the pivot 7 and the other link 9 being connected thereto an equaldisance below the pivot 7 so that while the upper link 8 is pulledforwardly with the forward movement of rocking beam 7 to drive itsrelated disk 12 as hereinafter describml, the other link 9 will bepulled forwardly to drive its related disk 12 on the return or rearwardmovement of rockingbeam 7, the con tinuous pro elling power or impulsethus al ternating :rrom one disk 12 and its related wheel 4 to theother.

Journ aled in each arm 13 is a transversely disposed rock shaft 14carrying on its inner end an eccentric cam 14 adapted when rocked toeither side of shaft 14 to frictionally engage the rim 12 of itsrespective disk 12, but when in intermediate central position to bedisengaged from said rim. @n the shaft 14 at the oppsite side of arm 13is a short linger 14 having its axis parallel with that of the cam 14and having itsouter end blunted and in constant engagement with a bowspring 15 anchored in the hub 13 of arm 13 and yieldably urging thefinger 14 to rotate shaft 14 so as to yieldably maintain eccentric cam14 in frictional engagement with the rim 12.

The outer end of shaft 14 has a downwardly extending bifurcated arm 14carrying knobs 14 and 14 respectively on the outer ends of thebifurcations for throwing the cams 14 into forward, neutral, and reversepositions, the knobs 14 and 14 as the arm 13 rocked engaging portions ofan actuating plate 16 mounted parallel with and in the path of theknobs, plate 16 being preferably secured by flanges to the frames 1, asshown in Fig. 2. The bifurcations of arm 1.4 are disposed at an angleof. approximately 90? apart, one of the arms of the bifurcations, e.,that carrying the knob 14 is disposed substantially parallel with theaxis of the eccentric cam 14 and the short arm 14 and hence the angularrelation of the arm of knob 14 will at all times give the position ofits related eccentric cam.

l 4 diagrammatically shows the arm 13 which is connected to the upperpush rod 8; also its knobs 14 and 14 in various positions with referenceto the fixed plate 16, and showing how the knobs govern the variousoperations of setting the cams for forward, neutral, and reversepositions. lTi 3 shows the cam 14 in position to drive the rim 12therewith when lever 13 moved to the left.

in 4 when arm 13 is moving to the left and knob 14 is disposed to theleft f the arm'the cam 14= is likewise disposed to the left of arm 13and is engaged with rim 12 and will drive its related rim 12 in acounter clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3.

Within the normal working limits of the lever 13, i. e., between thepositions marked A and D, the position of knob 14? remains unchanged,the spring pressed lug 14 maintaining the cam 14 constantly inengagement with rim' 12 so that as the arm 13 is moved to the left (llibetween the positions A and D, shown in dotted lines, the movement oflever 13'will be transmitted by friction on its related disk 12 topropel. the vehicle forwardly but in moving to the right between the posions A and D the cam 14 will merely slide on the face of the oppositelyrotating rim 12", such omaosite movement of lever 13 tending to rotatecam 14 out of engagement with the rim 12 In the above normal position ofknobs 14 and 14 for forward propulsion, 4) said knobs are disposed onthe same pitch circle with respect to axle 2, knobs 14 lying to the leftof arm 13 and knob 14 lying an equal distance to the right of arm 13.Plate 16 is provided with an upstanding lug 16 which just touches theknob 14 at position A so that any further movement of arm 13 to the leftwould rotate the arms of the knobs counter clockwise and shift knob 14to position B. Also plate 16 is provided at its other end withv a stoplug 16 havlOG ing an outwardly and downwardly sloping upper edge, theupper left hand corner of said lug 16 justtouching the lower portion ofknob 1 k in position D so that any further movement of arm 13 to theright would cause the arms of the knobs to rotate counter clockwise andshift the cam 14 into neutral. In the lug 16" is an arcnate slot 16 ofwidth slightly greater than the diameter of knobs 14 and 1 said slot 16being disposed on the pitch circle of the center of shaft 14 and theinner side of lug 16 being curved on an arc 16 concentric with the axisof shaft 2, so that as the arm 13 is moved to the right between thepositions D and E the knob 14 will slide along the upper face of lug 16into the mouth of slot 16". When knob 1 f reaches the above positionopposite slot 16 (position E) the shaft 14 will have been rotatedcounter clockwise an amount to bring 14 substantially in alignment withthe axis of arm 13, and hence cam 14; will be shifted into neutralposition and Will be disengaged from rim 12". Upon still fur thermovement of arm 13 to the right between posit-ions E and F, knob 14merely slides down in arcuate slot 16 without changing the angularity ofshaft 1 1 and during this movement cam 14 is maintained in neutralposition. This neutral movement of arm 13 between positions E and Factuates a braking mechanism hereinafter set forth.

Obviously, on the return or left hand movement of arm 13 from the aboveposition between positions F and E cam 14: remains neutral; and betweenpositions E and D shaft 14 is rotated an amount in a clockwise directionsuilicient to restore knobs 14 and 1 into normal forward drivingposition disposed on the same pitch circle. While returning frompositions E and D knob 1 1 is maintained in contact with the top edge oflug 16' by means of member 17 substantially rectangular in shape,pivoted as at 17 at its upper right hand corner (Fig. 4) to a proieetion16 of plate 16 above the mouth of slot 16. The lower edge 17 of member17 is substantially parallel, when in normal position, with the upperedge of lug 16 but spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permitpasof the knob 14 An abutn'ient 17 on the upper left hand corner ofmember 17 engaging an abutment 16 on lug 16 prevents clockwise rotationof member 17, the abntments being normally held in contact by means of aspring 17 The face 17 of member 17 is slightly concave or arcuate forthe purpose hereinafter described; and preferably the lower left handcorner of member 17 is disposed somewhat to the right of the upper lefthand corner of lug 16 therebypermitting the member 17 to be rotatedcounter clockwise so that its outer point will. clear the mouth of slot16 for the purpose hereinafter described. The adjacent face 16 of lug 16is also slightly concave or convex to conform with the edge of 17 ofmember 17 when the outer point of member 17 clears the mouth of slot 16for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The forward swinging movement of rocking beam 7 in the forward directionis normally controlled by a stop 18 (Figs. 1 and 8) at position A andmounted on one side frame 1 in front of the beam 7 and lying in the pathof a normally projected slide bolt 7 projecting from the side of beam 7but which when the slide bolt 7 is withdrawn permits the beam 7 to swindownwardly beyond the stop 18. Slide bolt 7 is preferably formciil onthe end of a bell-crank lever 7 pivoted on beam 7 and operated by a link7 connected to a pivoted hand lever 7 under the handle bar 7", wherebyas lever 7 is raised slide bolt 7 will be retractec against the actionof a coil spring 7 Means are provided for reversing the direction ofdrive of the coaster. In order to reverse the drive, rocking beam 7 mustbe thrown forward into position A (Fig. l) to meet stop 18, then lever 7raised permitting beam 7 to swing beyond stop 18 into position B (Fig.4) in which knob 145 has, by contact with projection 16 on plate 16 beenthrown into position shown in full lines in F thereby shifting the knobso that 1& assumes the normal position of knob 14H in Fig. l which israised above the. knobs 14: thereby rotating shaft 14 and lug 1 f"counter clockwise against the action of spring so the cam 1 is disposedon the right hand or opposite side of shaft 14, thereby reversing theaction of cam l iso ti'iat the rim 1:2 will be gripped by cam in torotate same when arm 13 is moving to the right in Fig. 5, the cam 14merely sliding on the face of the rim 12 when arm 13 moves to the left,and between the positions A and D the coaster will be driven backwardly.Ff hen arm 13 Fig. 5 is moved to the right the upper knob 1 f is movingfrom position D to E pushes the pivoted cam member 17 on plate 16backwardly out of normal position, the knob 14 sliding down the concaveface 16 towards the mouth of the slot 16 of plate 16, and hence rotatingcam 14: clockwise into neutral position to disengage the clutch. TV henarm 13 passes position E the knob 14E is then beyond the outer tip ofcam 17 allowing spring 17 to swing cam 17 back again into normalposition. v i

In position E Fig 5 the vehicle can also be moved in either directionwhile arm 13 is idling in neutral position, thereby permitting coastingwithout moving beam 7, the eccentric clutches being disengaged. Afterrcturning from braking position knob 14 is guided by the lower face 17 aof cam 17 into normal position as in Fig. 4 for straight ahead driving.

If the brakes are to be applied handle bars 7" may be pulled furtherbackwards to move arm 13 from positions E to F in either Figs. 41 or 5,holding the cams in neutral position and the lever 13 after passingpoint E ongages lug 19 on brake band 19 7) and thus applies the brake bycontracting the band around the outer face of rim 12.

Each brake band 19 is mounted above its respective rim 12 and has oneend 19 fixed to a support 19 extending between the side frames 1, thefixed on d being that adjacent the end of plate 115 having the lug 16".Band 19 curves over the rim 12 beside its related arm 13., and itsprojection 19 lies in the path of and contracts with arm 13 at theposition E, whereby further n'iovement of the arm 13 from position it toF will tension the ban d 19 and draw same down upon. its related rim 12to brake the same by friction. Suitable guides (not shown) formaintaining the bands 19 in operative position may be provided.

Thus it will be seen that the rocking beam 7 will rock the two arms 13from points A to D alternately driving disks 12 in either direction topropel the venicle in whichever direction the eccentric clutches 1 1 arethrown. If the car is running forwardly and the opera or wishes toreverse or drive the car backwards it will be necessary for him to throwthe beam 7 forwardly raising lever 7 to per mit the beam 7 to pass stop18 and into po sition l3 l i g. 1). The clutch cam 1 1 will then beshifted from forward (Fig. 1-) to the reverse (Fig. 5) driving positionsby means of engagement of knob 1 1 with stop lug 16. To continueoperating bacl-zwards the beam 7 is rocked between positions A. and D.To reset the cams for forward driving the handle bars 7 are pulledbackwards to throw arm 13 into neutral position 1] and the knob '14:"will le forced down incline into position i l and the car is placed inforward motion again after the knob 1 1 passes to the left out fromunder cam 17 and when the handle bars are shoved forwards the knob 14:is in nor mal position for straight-ahead driving.

The position of plate 16 for the arm operated by link 9 at the otherside of the vehicle is just reversed from that of the one abovedescribed; but the plates and the operations are the same for bothclutches.

A modification of the vehicle is shown in Figs. 9 to 1 1 inclusive. Inthis modification the same propelling means as above described is used,but steering of the vehicle is effected by means of rocking theoperators seat 20 which is mounted on V-shaped brackets 20 havingbearings 20 in their apexes disposed on the longitudinal axis of theframe and keyed or pinned on a longitudinally disposed rod 21 journaledin bearings 21" extending between the frames 1 at their upper endswhereby rocking of seat 20 will also rock the rod 21. This rod extendsforwardly to a point adacent the front axle 5, and its frnot end isprovided with a'depending arm 21 which has a universal connection with alink 22 the opposite end of which link has a universal connection with arearwardly extending arm 5 at one side of the front axle 5 wherebyrocking rod 21' will correspondingly swivel the front axle thus thehands and feet of the operator may be utilized for propelling purposes,a foot rest 7 being provided at the lower end of rocking beam 7 in orderthat the foot power may augment the hand pov e Means are provided fornormally mains tainin g or locking the front axle 5 in straight aheadposition. As shown the rear bearing 21 for rod 21 has its bore slightlyelongated vertically to permit the rear end of rod 21 to be raisedslightly in its hearing. A bowed spring 21 fits under the rod 21 and hasits end resting upon the side frames 1 for normallymaintaining the rod21 raised in the bearing. On the end of rod 21 adjacent the bearing isan enlarged head 21 havingtwo parallel sides spaced apart a distanceequal to the diameter of rod 21 its opposite sides being cut on the areof a circle somewhat larger in diameter than that of rod 21. Coaxialwith hearing 21 is an annular flange 21 within which the head 21 of rod21 makes a rotating lit as in Fig. 12 when the rear end of rod 21 isdepressed. The upper portion of flange 21 cut away a distance equal tothe diameter of rod 21 to receive the parallel sides oft-he head whenthe load on seat 20 is removed and rod 21 rotated to bring the parallelsides of the head in alignment with the cut-away portion of the flange,as in Fig. 13, whereupon the spring 21 will raise the end of rod 21 andthe rod will be locker from rotation until seat 20 'is again depressed.

1 do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawings forobviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

1 claim 1. In a vehicle, i axle, a driving ring on said axle; a leverjournaled on said axle beside the ring; clutchmeans for rotating thering means whereby the lever will automatically apply the brake afterthe clutch has been disengaged.

3. In a vehicle, an axle, a driving ring on said axle; a lever ournaledon said axle beagain returns Within the limits of itS' side the ring;clutch means for rotating the ring with the lever when same isrocked'within its normal worl ing limits; means for automaticallydisengi. ing the clutch after the lever has been rocked beyond the oneend of its normal working gene; means for auton'iaticall reengaging theclutch when the lever returns Within the limits of its normal workingstroke; and means at the other end of the nor M working stroke forautomatically reversing the clutch whereby the lever will drive the ringin the opposite direction during. its normal working stroke.

I. In combination with a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 a brake forsaid ring; and means whereby the lever will automatically apply thebrakeafter the clutch has been disengaged and upon further rotation of thelever away from its normal driving limits.

5. In vehicle an axle, a driving ring on said axle; a leverjournaled onsaid axle beside the ring; clutch means for rotating the ring with thelever when same is rocked within its normal working limits; means forautomatically disengaging the clutch after the lever has been rockedbeyond one end of its normal working stroke; means at the other end ofthe normal working stroke for automatically reversing the clutch tocause the lever to drive the ring in the opposite direction during itsnormal working limits means at the first mentio'ned end of the strokefor automatically disengaging the clutch; and means for automaticallyreengaging the clutch for normal straight-ahead driving when the leveragain returns within the limits of its normal work ing stroke.

6. In combination with a vehicle as set forth in claim 5 a brake bandaround said ring; and means whereby the lever will automaticallycontract the band after the clutch has been disengaged and upon furtherrotation of the lever away from itsnormal driving limits.

7. In a vehihcle, an axle, a driving ring on said axle; a leverjournaled on said axle beside said ring; a cam shaft journaled in saidlever; an eccentric cam'on said shaft within the ring; means foryieldably rotating the cam into driving contact with the ring; and meansfor automatically shifting and maintaining the cam in neutral positionwhen the lever is rocked beyond one end of its normal working limits andmeans restoring the cam to driving position when the lever returnswithin the limits of its working stroke.

8. In combination with a vehicle as setforth in claim 7 a brake bandaround the ring having one end fixed; and a projection on the other endof the band extending into the path of the lever and adapted to contacttherewith as the cam is shifted into neutral position, whereby furtherrotation of the lever away from the normal limits of its Working strokewill contract the band against the ring. I

9. In a vehicle asset forth in claim 7, said yieldable means forrotating the cam comprising a finger on the cam shafthaving its outerend blunted; and aobow spring anchored on the lever and having its freeend engaging the outer end of the finger, said spring beingsubstantiallyv normal to the finger when the cam is in neutral position.

' 10. In combination with a vehicle as set forth in claim 7, a rockingbeam pivoted on the vehicle for actuating the lever; a link connectingthe lever and beam; a stop adjacent the beam; a bolt on the side of thebeam normally engaging the stop for maintaining the lever within itsnormal working limits; and means on the beam for retracting the bolt.

11. In combination with a vehicle as set forth in claim 7 said axlebeing broken and each axle section having its driving ring and actuatinglever; a rocking beam pivoted on the vehicle for actuating said levers;a link connecting the lever of one axle section to the beams above itspivot; and a link connecting the other lever to the beam an equaldistance below its pivot whereby the driving impulse will he imparted toone axle section when the bean is moved in one direction, the drivingimpulse being in the same direction but imparted to the other axlesection upon the return stroke of the beam.

12. In a vehicle as set forth in claim 7, said means for automaticallysnifting the cam comprising an. arm on the cam shaft having a knob; afixed plate disposed in the path of swing of said knob and having acut-away portion in which the knob may swing unobstructed between thenormal working limits.

of the lever; said plate having a slot adapted to be engaged by the knobto rotate the cam into neutral position as the lever is swung beyondit's normal working limit.

13. In a vehicle, an axle, a driving ring on said axle; a leverjournaled on said axle beside the ring; a cam shaft journaled in saidlever; an eccentric cam on said shaft within the ring; means foryieldably rotating the cam into driving contact with the ring; means forautomatically shifting and maintaining the cam in neutral position whenthe lever is rocked beyond one. end of its normal workin limits, saidmeans restoring the cam to driving position when the lever returnswithin the limits of its working stroke; and means when the lever isrocked beyond the other end of its normal working limit forautomatically reversing the position of the cam for driving the vehiclein the opposite direction.

14. In a vehicle as set forth in calim 1, said means for automaticallyshifting the po sition of the cam comprising a bifurcated arm on the camshaft having a knob on each branch thereof; a fixed plate disposed inthe path of swing of said knobs and having a cut away portion in whichthe knobs may swing unobstructed in either position of the cam withinthe normal working limits of the lever; a projection at one end of theplate contacting with the adjacent knob when the lever passes beyond itsnormal working limits to shift the cam into reverse position; convergingportions at the opposite end oi the plate adapted to engage the adjacentknob when the cam. is in either normal or reverse position and to shiftthe cam into neutral position asthe lever passes beyond its normalWorking limits; and an arcuate slot at the apex of said convergingportions coaxial with said lever for maintaining the cam in neutralposition as the lever continues to move away from its Working limits.

1.5. In a vehicle, an axle, a driving ring on said axle; a leverjournaled on said axle beside the ring; a cam shait journaled in saidlever; an eccentric cam on said shaft within the ring; means foryieldably maintaining the cam in contact with the ring; meansforautomatically shifting and maintaining the cam in neutral positionwhen the lever is rocked beyond one end of its normal working stroke;means when the lever is rocked beyond the other end of its normalworking stroke for automatically reversing the position of the cam fordriving the vehicle in. the opposite direction; means at the first end.of the stroke for returning the cam from reverse position to neutralposition; and means for automatically restoring the cam to normalstraight-ahead driving posi tion when the lever returns again within thelimits of its working stroke.

16. In a vehicle as set forth in claim 15, said means for automaticallyshifting the position of the cam comprising a bifurcated arm on the camshaft having a knob on each branch thereof; a fixed plate disposed inthe path of swing of said knobs and having a cut away portion in whichthe knobs may swing unobstructed in either position of the cam withinthe normal working limits of the lover; a projection at one end of theplate contacting with the adjacent knob when the lever j'iasses beyondits normal Working limits to shift the cam into reverse position;converging portions at the opposite end of the plate adapted to engagethe adjacent knob when the cam is in either normal or reverse positionand to shift the cam into neutral position as the lever passes out ofits normal working limits; an arcuate slot at the apex of saidconverging portions coaxial with said lever for. maintaining the cam inneutral position while the lever moves therepast; and a yieldable guidebetween said convergingportions adapted to permit passage therepast otthe knob to the apex of said portionand to restore the knob to normalforward driving position when the knob returns from said convergingportions into the normal working limits of the lever.

17. In a vehicle, an axle; a driving ring thereon, a lever journaledbeside the ring; clutch means for rotating the ring with the lever whenthe same is rocked within its normal working limits; means formaintaining the clutch disengaged after the lever has passed beyond oneend of its normal working stroke; a brake band around said ring havingone end fixed; and a projection on the other end oi the band extendinginto the path of the lever and adapt-ed to contact therewith as theclutch is disengaged; whereby further movement of the lever away fromits normal working limits will contract the band against the ring.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM J. PUGH.

